Mr. Ayers completed his Bachelor of Science degree in Architecture at the University of Maryland and received his Master's of Science degree in Systems Management from the University of Southern California. After attending Officers Training School at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, Mr. Ayers was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Air Force and assigned to Edwards Air Force Base. There he served as a Staff Architect with the 6510th Civil Engineer Squadron managing numerous design and construction projects. He was promoted to Design Team Chief and progressed to the rank of Captain. Mr. Ayers was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal and after five years of active duty, decided to pursue a career in public service in another way. After working in the architectural and engineering community in the Washington, D.C., area, Mr. Ayers joined the Voice of America as a General Engineer in 1991. In 1992, he transferred to Rhodes, Greece, to lead design and construction efforts at several Voice of America sites in Greece and Germany. Mr. Ayers returned to the U.S. in 1997 and joined the Architect of the Capitol as an Assistant Superintendent for the Senate Office Buildings. In February 2007, Mr. Ayers began serving as Acting Architect until his appointment as Architect of the Capitol in May 2010. Mr. Ayers is a licensed architect in California and an Accredited Professional in Leadership in Energy and Environment Design. He is both a member and Fellow of the American Institute of Architects and a member of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the George Washington Chapter of Lambda Alpha International, Construction Users Roundtable, Construction Industry Institute, Washington Building Congress, and Construction Management Association of America. Mr. Ayers is the recipient of the Construction Industry Institute's 2011 Carroll H. Dunn Award for Excellence.Mr. Ayers is responsible for facilities maintenance and operation of the historic Capitol Building, the care of 470 acres of grounds, and operation and maintenance of 17.4 million square feet of buildings including the House and Senate Office Buildings, Capitol Visitor Center, Library of Congress Buildings, the U.S. Supreme Court Building, the Thurgood Marshall Federal Judiciary Building, and other facilities. As Architect of the Capitol, he oversees a staff of approximately 2,600 and an annual budget of nearly $600 million.

In May 2013, Mr. Ayers delivered the Commencement address and was awarded a Doctor of Public Design in recognition of his service as a champion of historic preservation, great public design, and sustainability.